December 2009 E-Current

E-Current
December 2009

In this Issue: Ecotourism Training in Fiji [1] • Vote Earth! [2] • CORAL Dive Trip [3] • Marine Debris Removal [4]

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visit coral.org [7]| donate [8]

Feature Location: Belize [9]
Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)
[10] The spotted eagle ray is commonly observed swimming over coral reefs, and may also swim long distances across open waters. Spotted eagle rays are capable of leaping completely out of the water when pursued, and produce loud sounds if caught and removed from the water. This eagle ray was photographed feeding on a seagrass bed in Belize. Learn more about Belize » [11]

Help the Reefs Quick Tip [12]
Think of the reefs when you do your holiday shopping this year—be good to your loved ones and the ecosystems you love! Look for gifts that are made from sustainable materials, and avoid any products that contain corals or shells. Reduce your carbon impact by consolidating your shopping and taking fewer car trips to stores. To support CORAL’s work more directly, you can still give the beautiful 2010 CORAL calendar [13] as part of a gift membership!
More on our site » [14]

Coral Reefs in the News [15]

Great Barrier Reef Survival "Requires 25 Percent CO2 Cut" [16]
Source: Reuters UK

Scientists Call for Urgent "Global Cooling" to Save Coral Reefs [17]
Source: The University of Queensland

Caribbean, Gulf Spared Widespread Coral Damage [18]
Source: The Associated Press

Coral Reefs Inspire Rare Consensus—Just Save Them [19]
Source: ScienceDaily

Bleached Coral Turns Big Fish into Bullies [20]
Source: ABC News Australia

More News... [21]

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonias mydas), Kauai, Hawaii, by Hal Beral

Help Us Reach Our $100,000 Challenge Goal! » [22]
CORAL's Board of Directors has issued a challenge grant of $100,000—if we can raise $100,000 by Jan 31, 2010, the Board will match that amount! Please help us reach our goal and double the impact of your donation.

[23]	Ecotourism Business Training in the Kubulau [24] Tourism has great potential to generate more income and community benefits for the people of the Kubulau District in Fiji. CORAL recently helped to sponsor a week-long training course in ecotourism business design that gave participants the skills to set up community-based tourism businesses and draw tourists to their villages. Read the story » [25]

[26]	Cast Your Vote for Planet Earth! [27] The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is just a few days away, and the decisions made there could have a profound impact on the future of coral reefs. WWF has created a simple tool to let you tell the world's decision makers that you are voting for the Earth and strong emissions reductions. Cast your vote » [28]

[29]	CORAL's 15th Anniversary Dive Trip to Fiji [30] To celebrate the impact of our work over the past 15 years, CORAL organized a dive trip to our oldest project site, the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji. Participants spent a week exploring the area’s spectacular reefs and meeting the traditional owners of the reefs in the Kubulau community. Read the expedition blog » [31]

[32]	Marine Debris Removal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands [33] The remote and uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to near-pristine coral reefs and a number of endangered species. Unfortunately, they also accumulate a large amount of marine debris moving in the North Pacific gyre. During a recent two-part debris removal expedition, more than 60 metric tons of derelict fishing gear and other debris were removed from the area! A video from the first leg of the expedition shows removal techniques and the beautiful marine environment. Watch the video on YouTube » [34]

* Photo Credits and Notes:
Banner Photo: Commensal Harlequin Crab (Lissocarcinus orbicularis), Satonda Island
Photographer: Dennis Liberson
Large Center Photo: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonias mydas), Hawaii
Photographer: Hal Beral
Left Side Photo: Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari), Belize
Photographer: Renata Ferrari Legorreta/Marine Photobank
Marine Debris Thumbnail Photo: Marine Debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Photographer: Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries/Marine Photobank

Links:
[1] http://www.coral.org/node/4408#story1
[2] http://www.coral.org/node/4408#story2
[3] http://www.coral.org/node/4408#story3
[4] http://www.coral.org/node/4408#story4
[5] http://www.coral.org
[6] http://www.coral.org
[7] http://www.coral.org
[8] https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=22995
[9] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/belize
[10] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/belize
[11] http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/belize
[12] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do%2523smartconsumer
[13] http://www.coral.org/calendar
[14] http://www.coral.org/what_you_can_do%2523smartconsumer
[15] http://www.coral.org/news/headlines
[16] http://www.coral.org/node/4392
[17] http://www.coral.org/node/4383
[18] http://www.coral.org/node/4380
[19] http://www.coral.org/node/4379
[20] http://www.coral.org/node/4375
[21] http://www.coral.org/news/from_the_media
[22] http://www.coral.org/2009
[23] http://www.coral.org/node/4397
[24] http://www.coral.org/node/4397
[25] http://www.coral.org/node/4397
[26] http://www.earthhour.org/Default.aspx
[27] http://www.earthhour.org/Default.aspx
[28] http://www.earthhour.org/Default.aspx
[29] http://www.coral.org/dive_trip_blog
[30] http://www.coral.org/dive_trip_blog
[31] http://www.coral.org/dive_trip_blog
[32] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1dblSip6RY
[33] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1dblSip6RY
[34] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1dblSip6RY